Day: January 6, 2011

Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 32 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round will include: First Prize: A.) A course certificate from onPoint Tactical. This certificate will be for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses. (Excluding those restricted for military or government teams.) Three day onPoint courses normally cost $795, and B.) Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees, in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $392 value.) C.) A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $275 value), D.) A 250 round case of 12 Gauge Hornady …


Letter Re: Taking the Plunge and Buying a Rural Retreat

James,   I may be a little late to the party, but I have spent a considerable time lately worrying about what to do if this economy of ours crashes.  I started thinking about what I would do if TSHTF. I had no answer. I have read about lot of peoples concern over solar flares, and 2012 scenarios, and while they may happen, I am more convinced of the coming collapse of the dollar and the global economy. I think this is much more of a probability and certainly less speculative that the other fears—at least at the moment. So, …


Letter Re: Some Practical Experience With Concertina Wire

CPT Rawles: I just wish to add that not only does concertina wire (C-wire) work well at stopping civilian vehicles such as cars and trucks, it also works on military vehicles such as the tracked Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle. During a rotation through the Combat Maneuver Training Center in Hohenfels, Germany in 1992, my Bradley ran through a line of deployed C-wire and was brought to a complete halt within 50 meters. Not only was the wire totally entangled through our tracks, but as we were moving and dragging it that 50 meters, it caught on to and subsequently dragged …


Letter Re: Establishing Private Radio Communications Using Consumer Grade Equipment

Jim: One thing I see omitted over and over again is about the FRS and GMRS radio “privacy codes”. A lot of people mistakenly think this is a “scrambled” communications form.Not True.It is just what the title says it is: a Privacy Code setting. It means that you cannot hear anyone not set to your code setting (36 possible settings on the standard set) or talk to them. However, your conversations CAN be listened to by anyone on that particular channel. To clarify, let’s say you are on channel 6 and your privacy code is set at 31. Anyone on …


Economics and Investing:

This article in Barron’s hardly comes as a news flash to SurvivalBlog readers: Barron’s: US Will See Run on Treasurys, Hyperinflation John R. suggested these two related articles: Pressure builds on Spain’s banks; Are credit markets predicting a bank run in Spain?, and 2011: Year of the bank run? R.D.F. sent this news of Nonsensical Nanny State Nosiness from California: Police issue warning about buying and selling gold. They must be referring to some local anti-fenced goods law. R.D.F.’s comment: “This is the latest example of Big Brother trying to outlaw and control those who refute paper money and worthless coin currency.” …


Odds ‘n Sods:

K.T. mentioned: Biospharms – Sustainable Agriculture Mini Farming    o o o Cheryl (aka “the Economatrix”) sent: Food Emergency:  Millions of Americans Are Heading To Food Banks For First Time    o o o Natural disasters ‘killed 295,000 in 2010’    o o o Bob G. sent this: Everything Is Falling Apart: 20 Facts That You Will Not Want To Read If You Still Want To Feel Good About America’s Decaying Infrastructure    o o o Timeline of a Bee Massacre: EPA Still Allowing Hive-Killing Pesticide. (Thanks to Jeff B. for the link.)